Identification Guide to SHARKS of Mississippi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Identification Guide to SHARKS of Mississippi By Dr. Eric Hoffmayer, Jim Franks and John Shelley The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Center for Fisheries Research and Development The development of this guide was made possible by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program. SHARKS PRESENTED IN THIS GUIDE PREFACE This guide was developed to assist anglers, particularly similar species that are easily confused. Bonnethead .......................................... Sphyrna tiburo Dusky shark ...............................Carcharhinus obscurus charter boat captains, marine enforcement officers, It is the intent of the authors that this user-friendly biologists, commercial fishers and others in the guide serve as a useful field identification aid as well Scalloped hammerhead........................ Sphyrna lewini Silky shark ..............................Carcharhinus falciformis identification of sharks that occur in or near the as a source of general information on local sharks. Great hammerhead........................... Sphyrna mokarran Atlantic sharpnose shark .. Rhizoprionodon terraenovae coastal and marine waters of Mississippi. Species Considering the overfished status of numerous included in the guide were selected based on their shark populations, individuals who catch sharks, Tiger shark ........................................ Galeocerdo cuvier Blacknose shark ....................... Carcharhinus acronotus relative occurrence and probability of encounter particularly female sharks during pupping season, within Mississippi’s inshore (north of the barrier might choose to release them unharmed once they Lemon shark ............................... Negaprion brevirostris Finetooth shark ............................Carcharhinus isodon islands) and offshore (south of the barrier islands) are identified by quick reference to this guide. It is waters. anticipated that the guide represents the initial step Bull shark ..................................... Carcharhinus leucas Spinner shark .........................Carcharhinus brevipinna The guide provides a shark illustration which in the development of an angler-based, cooperative highlights external anatomical features used to tagging program for sharks in Mississippi waters. Shortfin mako ...................................Isurus oxyrinchus Blacktip shark .......................... Carcharhinus limbatus identify the various species. An identification This guide was developed with a grant from Sandbar shark .......................... Carcharhinus plumbeus “key,” photographs, descriptions of unique physical the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources characteristics, and general information for each and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish species assist users in correctly identifying the sharks, Restoration Program. Page 1 Page 2 GENERAL REPRODUCTIVE INFORMATION ON SHARKS IN THIS GUIDE Common Name Female Size at Litter Size** Size at Birth Pupping REFERENCE POINTS FOR TERMS IN GUIDE Maturity (feet)** (inches)** Season Small Coastal Species Interdor- Atlantic sharpnose 3 1 – 7 13 – 15 May/June 1st Dorsal Fin sal Ridge 2nd Dor- Finetooth 4 – 5 1 – 6 18 – 20 May/June Bonnethead 3 1 – 16 14 – 16 Aug/Sept 1st Dorsal Fin Origin sal Fin Blacknose 3 – 4 3 – 6 15 – 20 May/June Free Rear Tip Large Coastal Species Blacktip 5 – 6 1 – 10 18 – 23 May/June Spinner 6 – 7 3 – 15 24 – 30 May/June Bull 7 – 8 1 – 15 22 – 32 May/June Sandbar 5 – 6 1 – 14 22 – 30 May/June Silky 7 – 8 2 – 14 28 – 34 May/June Caudal Fin Dusky * 9 – 10 3 – 14 27 – 39 May/June Tiger 11 – 12 10 – 82 20 – 30 May/June Caudal Keel Lemon 7 – 8 4 – 17 24 – 26 May/Aug Snout Anal Fin Claspers Scalloped hammerhead 7 – 8 15 – 31 17 – 22 May/June (males Pelvic Fin Great hammerhead 9 – 10 13 – 42 20 – 28 Aug/Sept Pectoral Fin only) Pelagic Species Rear Margin Shortfin mako 9 – 10 8 – 10 24 – 27 Unknown Illustration by Joe Jewell Shark Management Category * Prohibited Species ** Source: J.D. McEachran and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Sharks are managed by state and federal regulations. Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin, 1112 pp. Page 3 Page 4 IDENTIFICATION KEY TO THE SHARKS OF MISSISSIPPI This key contains a series of paired descriptive options (1-14) to use in the identification of sharks. Beginning with #1, select the option (a or b) b) Top lobe of caudal fin longer than bottom lobe; no caudal keel .......................................................................................8 that best applies to your specimen. The number shown at the end of your chosen option will guide you through the key to the next pair of options you must consider. Continue this stepwise process until you identify the correct name of your shark. 8. a) Interdorsal ridge present .....................................................................................................................................................9 b) Interdorsal ridge absent .....................................................................................................................................................11 1. a) Head shovel or hammer shaped ..........................................................................................................................................2 9. a) 1st dorsal fin high, triangular, and originates over middle of pectoral fin ....................................................... Sandbar (p.21) b) Head rounded to pointed ...................................................................................................................................................4 b) 1st dorsal fin moderately rounded and originates over or well behind rear margin of pectoral fin ................................10 2. a) Head shovel shaped with no center indention ........................................................................................ Bonnethead (p.7) 10. a) 1st dorsal fin originates over rear margin of pectoral fin; pectoral fin with slightly curved rear margin ........ Dusky (p.23) b) Head hammer shaped with center indention .....................................................................................................................3 b) 1st dorsal fin originates well behind rear margin of pectoral fin; 2nd dorsal fin has long free tip ....................Silky (p.25) 3. a) Front margin of head broadly arched with center indention and two shallow notches on 11. a) Origin of 2nd dorsal fin about middle of anal fin base; white spots on dorsal surface of individuals each side; pelvic fins with straight rear margin ......................................................................Scalloped hammerhead (p.9) greater than 23” total length ........................................................................................................Atlantic sharpnose (p.27) b) Front margin of head nearly straight with center indention and one shallow notch on each b) Origin of 2nd dorsal fin aligns with origin of anal fin; white spots absent on dorsal surface .........................................12 side; pelvic fins with curved rear margin ....................................................................................Great hammerhead (p.11) 12. a) Snout with dusky blotch at tip ...................................................................................................................Blacknose (p.29) 4. a) Snout short and bluntly rounded .......................................................................................................................................5 b) Snout without dusky blotch at tip .....................................................................................................................................13 b) Snout elongated and moderately rounded to pointed .......................................................................................................7 13. a) Fins not black tipped; 1st dorsal fin originates over rear margin of pectoral fin; body bluish gray .............Finetooth (p.31) 5. a) Black spots or stripes on dorsal surface; teeth serrated and deeply notched ..................................................... Tiger (p.13) b) All or most of the fins black tipped ...................................................................................................................................14 b) Body uniform in color; teeth not deeply notched ..............................................................................................................6 14. a) 1st dorsal fin originates behind rear margin of pectoral fin; all fins black tipped; snout longer than 6. a) 1st and 2nd dorsal fins approximately equal in size; body yellowish-green to brown in color ...................... Lemon (p.15) mouth width ...................................................................................................................................................Spinner (p.33) b) 1st dorsal fin much larger than 2nd dorsal fin; 1st dorsal fin high, triangular, and originates over middle b) 1st dorsal fin originates over pectoral fin, sometimes over the rear margin; all fins black tipped except of pectoral fin; body robust and dark gray in color ............................................................................................ Bull (p.17) anal fin; snout shorter than mouth width ....................................................................................................Blacktip